1999 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in the year 1999.

Incumbents

President: Joseph Estrada (LAMMP) Vice President: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Lakas) Senate President: Marcelo Fernan (until June 28) Blas Ople (starting June 29) House Speaker: Manuel Villar Chief Justice: Hilario Davide Jr. Philippine Congress: 11th Congress of the Philippines

Events

January January – Diplomatic relations between Palau and the Philippines reach an all-time low with Palau President Kuniwo Nakamura threatening to sever diplomatic ties between his country and the Philippines over repeated crossing of Filipino fishers into Palau's EEZ.OVER SEAS - The Online Magazine for Sustainable Seas. Oneocean.org. Retrieved on 2013-09-01.

January 6 – A giant wave hits the wharf of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, causing damages to properties and reported deaths of 18 people."Giant wave kills 18 in Tawi-Tawi" PHNO. 01-10-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022. January 19 – During a fluvial procession in Lumban, Laguna, a float hits an electric cable which later falls, causing devotees aboard to get either electrocuted or drowned as they jump into the river; 13 are confirmed dead, others are reported missing."Laguna tragedy: 13 dead in fluvial procession accident" PHNO. 01-20-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022."Philippines: 13 people killed in boating accident" AP Archive. 01-19-1999. Retrieved 03-30-2022. January 20 – A passenger bus falls into a ravine after overshooting a sharp curve on Naguilian Road in Sablan, Benguet, killing 22 people."Baguio minibus falls into ravine, 22 killed" PHNO. 01-22-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022."Philippines Bus Accident Kills 22" AP News. 01-21-1999."Philippines bus crash kills 22" BBC News. 01-21-1999."Evangelista: P-Noy orders probe of Sablan killer bus mishap" SunStar. 08-21-2010.For the timelines of related accidents:(Opinion) "Kakila-kilabot na bus accident" (in Tagalog) Philstar.com. 08-21-2010.(Opinion) "Life and death" Inquirer.net. 11-01-2011. (Note that this article mistakenly reported that the accident in Benguet occurred on "June 20, 1999".) All were retrieved 03-17-2022.

February February 5 – Rape convict Leo Echegaray is executed by lethal injection at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa; becoming the first Filipino to be meted the sentence since the country's last public execution in 1976 and the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1993; also first execution by that method. Prior to this, on Jan. 19, the Supreme Court lifted the Temporary Restraining Order issued on Jan. 4, the day of his supposed execution, as the representatives submit to them their resolution, which has passed the same day, favoring the Death Penalty Law (Republic Act 7659).For the events prior to the execution:"Echegaray's last hope: Supreme Court special session tomorrow" 01-03-1999."Echegaray execution stopped by Supreme Court" 01-04-1999."Congress majority favors death penalty" 01-19-1999."Death penalty: Supreme Court decides today" 01-19-1999."Supreme Court lifts Echegaray TRO" 01-19-1999."Execute Echegaray now -- Erap" 01-20-1999."Echegaray execution: 3 PM, Feb. 5" 01-23-1999.For the execution of Echegaray:"Palace-death chamber hotline disconnected" 02-05-1999."Leo Echegaray pronounced dead at 3:19 PM" 02-05-1999.All articles are from Philippine Headline News Online (PHNO); retrieved 03-16-2022.For the events prior to the execution:"Rapist wins court stay on death penalty" The Irish Times. 01-05-1999."The Death Penalty Dilemma" Asiaweek. Jan. 1999."Philippines: Further information on imminent execution: Leo Echegaray" (PDF) Amnesty International. 01-22-1999.For the execution of Echegaray:"Philippines executes first prisoner in 23 years" CNN. 02-05-1999. Retrieved 04-12-2021."Rapist executed by lethal injection in Manila" The Irish Times. 02-06-1999."Philippines Executes Child Rapist" AP News. 02-05-1999."Filipino executed" Wired. 02-05-1999."Rapist dies as Manila brings back execution" The Guardian. 02-06-1999.For the details of the case:"G.R. No. 132601" Supreme Court E-Library. 10-12-1998.(Opinion) "A Heinous crime: The Leo Echegaray story" Daily Guardian. 08-11-2020.Event is also mentioned in the article:"In the know: Death penalty" Inquirer.net. 05-17-2016. Retrieved 04-12-2021."The death penalty debate: Comedic episode, studies show risks" Inquirer.net. 07-26-2019.Videos:"Philippines: Child rapist Echegaray executed" (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part V) AP Archive."Philippines: Convicted child rapist Leo Echegaray is set to be executed by lethal injection, the first execution in Philippines in 23 years" Reuters."Philippines: Executed child rapist Leo Echegaray buried in the Philippines" Reuters.Unless otherwise stated, all were retrieved 03-30-2022."#Journeyto30" by Epi Fabonan III, Philstar.com: (1999) "Crime and punishment" April 30, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2018.

March March 14 – Electorates of the municipality of Ilagan, in the province of Isabela turn down the cityhood law under the Republic Act 8474 which seeks to convert the town into a component city.

April April 15 – A bomb explosion in Batan Island, Rapu-Rapu, Albay reportedly kills at least 13 and injured more than 70 others."Albay fiesta dance bombed, 13 dead" PHNO. 04-16-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022.

May May 26 – Miriam Quiambao is proclaimed 1st runner-up in the Miss Universe 1999 pageant night was held in the Chaguaramas Convention Centre, Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago. May 27 – New Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States is ratified by the Senate, returning American military presence in the country. May 29 – The Manhunt International World Finals (1999) was held in Manila, Philippines. About 43 participants competed in this edition.

June June 22 – Mayon Volcano in Albay suddenly and shortly erupts, emitting ash as high as 7 to 10 kilometers; ashfalls are reported in Camalig; there are no casualties."Mayon's 'perfect cone' explodes once more" PHNO. 06-23-1999."Mayon Volcano erupts, residents flee" PHNO. 06-23-1999.All are retrieved 03-16-2022.

August August 3 – At least 58 people die and hundreds of homes are buried in a massive landslide in Cherry Hills subdivision in Antipolo, Rizal, which has caused by the heavy rains brought by Typhoon Olga (Ising)."Hundreds of Antipolo hillside homes collapse, scores dead" PHNO. 08-04-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022."LIST: Deadly landslides in the Philippines" Rappler. 09-22-2018. Retrieved 03-30-2022. August 11 – A police officer and four others, all involved in the 1996 murder of former MISG chief and former Ilocos Norte Gov. Rolando Abadilla, are convicted by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, another two are acquitted. In 2008, the Court of Appeals would reduce the death sentence, originally given to them, to reclusión perpetua; the Supreme Court would affirm the verdict in 2010."Death for killers of Ilocos Norte governor" PHNO. 08-12-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022."TIMELINE: Abadilla 5" Inquirer.net. 09-07-2016."Philippines: Lenido Lumanog's lasting legal legacy" Asian Human Rights Commission. 10-09-2016.All were retrieved 04-04-2022."Appendix: Case analysis: Supreme Court's rulings on Vizconde and Abadilla cases are contradictory" Asian Human Rights Commission. Dec. 21, 2010. Retrieved Oct. 8, 2021. Mid-August to early September – Sixty-eight residents mysteriously died in Clark, Pampanga. In October, a task force reported that the deaths were caused by tons of toxic waste abandoned in the former US air base."Probe 68 Clark deaths from toxic waste -- Osmena" PHNO. 09-18-1999."Clark toxic waste death toll now 68" PHNO. 10-11-1999.All are retrieved 03-16-2022. August 20 – Former president Corazon Aquino and Cardinal Jaime Sin lead a rally on Ayala Avenue in Makati against the Constitutional Correction for Development, President Estrada's version of charter change. August 26 – An armed encounter between the Philippine Army soldiers and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan kills at least 47 guerillas."47 MILF rebels, 2 soldiers dead in Basilan clash" PHNO. 08-28-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022.

September September 15 – A landslide, triggered by heavy rains, buries a van with 18 people on board along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, killing 17 of them."Kennon landlide buries van; 17 dead" PHNO. 09-16-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022. September 16 – The Supreme Court grants a petition declaring Republic Act 8528 unconstitutional which amended certain sections of Republic Act 7720, citing lack of plebiscite. Thus, the component city of Santiago in the province of Isabela is reverted to an independent component city."G.R. No. 133064" The LawPhil Project. September 16, 1999. Retrieved July 30, 2022.

October October 23 – A plebiscite creating the city of Novaliches is held but the proposal is turned down by the electorate. October 31 – An overloaded jeepney plunges into the ravine in Itogon, Benguet, killing 21 passengers out of 34 people on board."Overloaded jeepney falls into Benguet ravine, 21 dead" PHNO. 11-02-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022.

November November 4 – A bus falls into a ravine in Atok, Benguet, killing at least 19 people."Another Benguet bus tragedy ravine kills 19" PHNO. 11-05-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022. November 18 – At least 32 die in separate clashes between MILF rebels and government troops in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, a day after their declaration of a ceasefire."Ceasefire violations: 32 killed in Mindanao clashes" PHNO. 11-19-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022. November 27–28 – ASEAN Informal Summit meeting is held in Manila."1999 ASEAN Summit in Manila this week" PHNO. 11-23-1999. Retrieved 03-16-2022.

December December 7 – Asian Spirit Flight 100 is crashed onto a mountainside between the municipalities of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya and Cabarroguis, Quirino, 17 passengers were killed. December 10–11 – A massive power failure hits the entire Luzon overnight, caused by an invasion of an estimated 50 tons of giant jellyfish in a generating plant in Sual, Pangasinan."Jellyfish blamed for Philippines blackout" BBC News. 12-11-1999."Giant Pangasinan jellyfish caused Luzon blackout" PHNO. 12-12-1999."Up from the Ocean: Manila hopes to cut power bills with deregulation - and offshore gas" Asiaweek issue of 12-24-1999."Fifty truckloads of jellyfish reveal a jittery political atmosphere in the Philippines" World Socialist Web Site. 01-07-2000.Event is also cited in the articles:"Power breakdown hits Luzon, Metro Manila Due to tripping of NPC lines" Greenspun.com. 10-21-2000."Napocor: Full power restored" PHNO. 10-22-2000."No sabotage, but what caused blackout?" Philstar.com. 11-06-2001.All were retrieved 03-17-2022. December 12 – A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hits parts of Luzon, with the epicenter located near Lingayen, Pangasinan; reportedly killing 6 people."Philippines - Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 2" ReliefWeb. 12-13-1999. Retrieved 03-17-2022. December 15 – The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) is opened to the public with operations running along a 16.9-kilometer route from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. December 18: Malolos becomes a component city in the province of Bulacan through ratification of Republic Act 8754. Tuguegarao becomes a component city in the province of Cagayan through ratification of Republic Act 8755."This Week's Milestones" Inquirer.net.(From 12-18-2016 to 12-24-2016) Retrieved January 31, 2018.(From 12-16-2018 to 12-22-2018) Retrieved January 15, 2019.

Holidays

As per Executive Order No. 292, chapter 7 section 26, the following are regular holidays and special days, approved on July 25, 1987. Note that in the list, holidays in bold are "regular holidays" and those in italics are "nationwide special days".

January 1 – New Year's Day April 1 – Maundy Thursday April 2 – Good Friday April 9 – Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) May 1 – Labor Day June 12 – Independence Day August 29 – National Heroes Day